The replacement of Dickinson Community’s longtime iconic structure, “The Object,” was completed over homecoming weekend.
Photo Provided
Donald Walford, a student from the class of 1967 and the original artist of “The Object,” led the reconstruction project. He worked with three crews of four current Dickinson Community residents, two physical facilities workers and assorted friends and alumni to build the replacement.
The new decorative piece is constructed from reused railroad tires supplied by Recycle Technologies International in Florida.
During summer 2009, physical facilities had reported to Suzanne Howell, director of Residential Life, that “The Object” was no longer safe after sustaining 42 years of snow and ice damage from the weather.
Patricia Wrobel, director of development for Student Affairs, contacted 270 alumni from the graduating classes of 1967 and 1968, to find the original artist’s contact information in hopes of replacing the sculpture.
“’The Object’ is an important part of Dickinson’s history,” wrote Wrobel in an e-mail to the alumni.
When Walford got the e-mail, he responded: “Tell me when, I’ll show up.”
Walford, an art major in Harpur College, designed “The Object” in 1967 for his thesis on constructionism. He originally named it “Construction #3,” but after he graduated students called it the “collegiate structure,” and eventually just “The Object.”
He admitted he had not expected “The Object” to last forever, as it had been constructed with reused railroad ties that had already been used for 50 years on the railroad track.
Walford was excited for the chance to rebuild it, and was pleased with the way it came out. He said reconstructing “The Object” brought him back to the ’60s era, a pretty cool time.
According to Wrobel, the total cost of the reconstruction project was $3,000.
Walford had been slightly modifying its design since mid-August. One such modification is that the sculpture is now safe for students to climb on.
In honor of Dickinson Community’s 50th anniversary, people can now purchase a plaque to be placed on the sculpture, as part of a fundraiser for Dickinson’s living and learning environment.
According to Jeff Horowitz, assistant director for Dickinson Community, “The Object” serves as a focal point located in the center of the Dickinson residence halls. He said “The Object” is movable, so when Dickinson Community moves over to its new site in 2013, “The Object” will remain at the center point of the residence halls.
He also said that now that the students have had the opportunity to rebuild it, it’s even more personal.
Wrobel developed a close relationship with Walford as they coordinated project details.
“He represents the best of what Binghamton is all about,” Wrobel stated.
In 1967, Walford also won first prize for his second biggest piece of art at a juried artist sculpture show in Central New York. The piece was put into the New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art, which Walford said was “pretty cool for a little kid.”